Right before the Pirates young stars took the next step to three consecutive division championships, they were embroiled in their most frustrating game before NLCS games against the Braves happened.

A svelte Barry Bonds led off the first inning with a walk, and about a half hour later, hit a three-run homer. Gary Redus, batting fifth, hit two separate RBI singles. Pitcher Bob Walk even got a hit. All in all, the Pirates batted eighteen, scoring ten runs.  And the Phillies deserved the shellacking after intentionally walking Jeff King(!) with one out to load the bases.  In the first inning.  Even Jose Lind's mood had to be great despite grounding out twice in the inning.

Pirates broadcaster Jim Rooker was in a good mood. He said on the air that if the Phillies came back and won the game, he'd walk home. Well, guess what?

Von Hayes hit a couple of two-run homers--no embarrassment there--to put the home team back in it. But then embarrassment did happen. Steve Jeltz, who had hit just two home runs in almost 2,000 plate appearances in the majors, blasted two homers.  Then the wheels fell completely off in the eighth inning, as the tying run scored on a wild pitch and after a few more hits, the Phillies took the lead 15-11.

The Pirates became the first team in history to lose a game after scoring ten runs in the first. Their win probability was 99% after the first inning and was still 78% while up 11-10 in the 8th.

The best part of the story is that announcer Jim Rooker stood by his words. After the season ended, he organized a charity event and walked the 300 miles.

Since then, the Royals (naturally) have duplicated the Pirates feat in 2006, scoring ten first-inning runs and losing to the Indians.